Connector for a post-mounted lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A mounting base for attaching a lighting fixture to the end of a round or square tubular post. The mounting base has a flat wall on which the lamp socket is mounted and a downwardly extending apron. The lower surface of the wall is provided with a plurality of series of lugs with the lugs of each series being radially aligned with one another and located a successively greater distance from the center of the plate. The radially inner faces of the lugs are substantially perpendicular to the flat wall and are spaced radially from the center of the wall by distances equal to the successively greater external diameters of the tubular posts. Set screws carried by the apron portion of the mounting base engage the outer surface of the post to clamp the mounting base to the post.

Unite States atent [151 3,696,242 Patry [451 Oct. 3, 1972 4] CONNECTOR FOR A POST-MOUNTED Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews LIGHTING FIXTURE Assistant Examiner-Michael D. Harris [72] Inventor: Leon R. Patry, 3977 Medina Road, Atwmey oldham & Oldham Medina, Ohio 44256 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: June 1971 A mounting base for attaching a lighting fixture to the [21] Appl. No.: 153,253 end of a round or square tabular post. The mounting base has a flat wall on which the lamp socket is mounted and a downwardly extending apron. The [52] 4 7 5 473 3 lower surface of the wall is provided with a plurality of 51 Int. Cl. ..F2ls 1/12 1 2w 3/02 ZfF Z 5 with the g f f g being i igne w1 one ano er an ocate a successwe y [58] Field of Search MAO/84 285/177 greater distance from the center of the plate. The radially inner faces of the lugs are substantially perpendicular to the flat wall and are spaced radially from [56] References Clted the center of the wall by distances equal to the succes- UNITE STATES PATENTS sively greater extemal diameters of the tubular posts. Set screws carned by the apron portion of the mountg ii "287/ ing base engage the outer surface of the post to clamp u 185 b t t 3,065,000 11/1962 Stanton ..285/l77 e mg ase o e P05 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 32 46 32 32 22 32 28 34 32 32 32 46 24 3 I i l I 3 i |l 36 34 4832 I 32 3 3 -J I 40 l 39 2 38 40 l 38 4O 38 CONNECTOR FOR A POST-MOUNTED LIGHTING FIXTURE The present invention relates to post mounted lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to an improved mounting base capable of being used with posts of various sizes.

Post mounted lighting fixtures have heretofore usually been provided with a sleeve which fits over the end of the post and which is retained by suitable screws. With such arrangements it is necessary to provide different size sleeves for each of the different size posts used. Since the mounting sleeve normally is in integral part of the lighting fixture base, this requires separate bases for each post size used, increasing both manufacturing costs and inventory.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture base which is adapted to be used in conjunction with a number of different size posts, without requiring modification of the base.

- It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture mounting base which is easily installed on a support post and which firmly secures the lighting fixture to the post.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture mounting base for use in conjunction with a support post by which the fixture is automatically centered on the post.

The above and other objects of the invention which will become apparent in the following detailed description are achieved by providing a lighting fixture mount ing base which consists, essentially, of a base portion having a flat wall and an apron projecting downwardly from the wall, a plurality of series of lugs provided on the bottom surface of the wall, the lugs of each series usually being radially aligned with one another and the radially inner faces of the lugs being substantially perpendicular to the flat wall and spaced from the center of the wall by distances equal to successively greater radii of the mounting or supporting posts, and set screws threaded through the apron in radial alignment with the lugs for engaging and clamping the post.

For a more complete understanding of the invention and the objects and advantages thereof reference should be had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a post lamp assembly equipped with the mounting base of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The lighting fixture, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, includes the connector 12 which serves as a mounting base for a light socket 14, the light bulb 16, and a transparent or translucent globe l8 surrounding the socket 14 and bulb 16. The globe 18 may be of glass or plastic and is secured to the connector 12 by any suitable arrangement. A tubular post 20 supports the fixture 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the connector 12 will be described. The connector 12 has a flat plate 22 which extends across the upper end of the mounting post 20, an upwardly projecting wall 24 at the outer edge of the flat wall 22 to provide a ring for receiving a flange or edge portion 19 of the globe 18, and a downwardly projecting wall or apron 26. It should be noted that while the walls 24 and 26 are shown as being continuous and cylindrical, other configurations may be used and the wall 26 may be offset from the wall 24, if desired. The flat plate 22 includes a central hole 28 through which the wiring 30 is passed.

Projecting downwardly from the flat plate 22 are four series of lugs 32 with the lugs of each series usually being radially aligned with one another. Corresponding ones of the lugs of each of the series 32 are spaced equal distances from the center of the plate 22. Thus, the innermost lugs 32a of each series are located on a circle concentric with the center of the plate 22. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lugs have radially inner faces 34 which are substantially perpendicular to the flat plate 22 and radially outer faces 36 which may be angled relative to the flat plate 22. The distance from the inner face 34 of the lugs to the center of the plate 22 are equal to or at most slightly greater than the distance from the center of a support post to its outer circumference. Thus, for example, the inner faces of the lugs 32a may be located approximately one inch from the center of the plate 22 for receiving 2 inch diameter pipe and the inner faces of the lugs 32b 1 l inches from the center for receiving three inch diameter pipe. It will be understood that the lugs are also aligned for use with square tubing. Thus, the innermost lugs would be suitable for use with 2 inch by 2 inch square tubing.

The apron 26 is provided with enlarged portions 38 on its inner wall in radially alignment with each of the series of lugs 32. These enlarged portions are drilled and tapped to form holes 39 to receive set screws 40 extending in radial alignment with the corresponding lugs 32. The set screws serve to clamp to the connector 12 to the end of the supporting tube or post. A flat cover plate 42 may be provided at the lower end'of the apron being retained by screws 44 threaded into the enlarged portions 38 of the apron 26.

The light fixture 10 is installed on a post by positioning the connector 12 over the upper end of the post 20. The lugs 32 serve to center the connector on the post properly. It will be noted that sufficient distance 46 is provided between adjacent lugs to permit the wall 48 of the post 20 to fit between the adjacent lugs. Thus, the upper end of the post rests on the lower surface on the flat plate 22 assuring that the light fixture is properly leveled relative to the post. The set screws 40 are tightened after the connector 12 has been positioned firmly on top of the post and these screws serve to clamp the connector securely to the post. It will be understood that different length set screws will be used with different diameter posts. Preferably, the screws are allen head screws so that they do not distract from the external appearance of the lighting fixture and so that they can be completely within the holes 39.

While only the best known embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail herein the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A base for connecting a light fixture to any one of a plurality of tubular support members having different cross sectional dimensions, comprising:

a flat floor portion forming a ture;

a wall projecting downwardly from the periphery of the floor portion;

plurality of series of lugs projecting downwardly from the floor portion, the lugs of each series being radially aligned with one another relative to the center of the floor portion, the inner face of each innermost lug of each series being on a circle concentric with the center of the floor portion and of a diameter slightly greater than the cross sectional dimension of the smallest of said plurality of support members, the inner face of each of the successive lugs of each series being on concentric circles of successively greater diameters which are slightly greater than the cross sectional dimension of successively larger support members; the base being positionable on the upper end of one of said plurality of support members with the corresponding lugs surrounding the support members and a plurality of screws threaded through the downwardly projecting wall, one screw being provided for each series of lugs and radially aligned with the respective series of lugs to engage the outer surface of any one of said support member.

2. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 wherein the radially inner face of each lug is substantially perpendicular to the floor portion and the radially outer face of each lug is angled relative to the floor portion.

3. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 wherein the radially inner face of each lug is spaced from the radially outer face of the adjacent lug by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of the support member.

4. The light fixture connecting base according to support for the light fixclaim 1 wherein the downwardly projecting wall is provided with portions of increased thickness in radial alignment with each series of lugs, the screws being threaded through the portions of increased thickness.

5. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 further including a cover plate at the lower end of the downwardly projecting wall, the plate having a central hole for receiving the support member.

6. A light fixture base for a post mounted fixture which is adapted to be used with tubular posts of different cross sectional sizes, comprising:

a flat floor portion forming a support for the light fixture;

a plurality of series of lugs projecting downwardly from the floor portion and arranged in several series of lugs forming sets of lugs at varied distances from the center of the floor portion which lugs of a given set are adapted to engage with a post of a given size to support the base on any such post;

an annular wall projecting downwardly the floor portion radially outward of the outermost set of lugs; and

a plurality of screws threadedly engaging the wall, and extending therethrough for engaging the outer surface of any of said posts.

7. The light fixture base according to claim 6 wherein there are four lugs in each set of lugs.

8. The light fixture base according to claim 6 wherein there are three sets of lu s.

9. The light fixture bas e according to claim 6 wherein each lug has a radially inner face which is substantially perpendicular to the floor portion, and which face is flat.

10. The light fixture base according to claim 6 further including an annular cover plate secured to the lower end of the downwardly projecting wall. 

1. A base for connecting a light fixture to any one of a plurality of tubular support members having different Cross sectional dimensions, comprising: a flat floor portion forming a support for the light fixture; a wall projecting downwardly from the periphery of the floor portion; a plurality of series of lugs projecting downwardly from the floor portion, the lugs of each series being radially aligned with one another relative to the center of the floor portion, the inner face of each innermost lug of each series being on a circle concentric with the center of the floor portion and of a diameter slightly greater than the cross sectional dimension of the smallest of said plurality of support members, the inner face of each of the successive lugs of each series being on concentric circles of successively greater diameters which are slightly greater than the cross sectional dimension of successively larger support members; the base being positionable on the upper end of one of said plurality of support members with the corresponding lugs surrounding the support members and a plurality of screws threaded through the downwardly projecting wall, one screw being provided for each series of lugs and radially aligned with the respective series of lugs to engage the outer surface of any one of said support member.
 2. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 wherein the radially inner face of each lug is substantially perpendicular to the floor portion and the radially outer face of each lug is angled relative to the floor portion.
 3. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 wherein the radially inner face of each lug is spaced from the radially outer face of the adjacent lug by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of the support member.
 4. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 wherein the downwardly projecting wall is provided with portions of increased thickness in radial alignment with each series of lugs, the screws being threaded through the portions of increased thickness.
 5. The light fixture connecting base according to claim 1 further including a cover plate at the lower end of the downwardly projecting wall, the plate having a central hole for receiving the support member.
 6. A light fixture base for a post mounted fixture which is adapted to be used with tubular posts of different cross sectional sizes, comprising: a flat floor portion forming a support for the light fixture; a plurality of series of lugs projecting downwardly from the floor portion and arranged in several series of lugs forming sets of lugs at varied distances from the center of the floor portion which lugs of a given set are adapted to engage with a post of a given size to support the base on any such post; an annular wall projecting downwardly the floor portion radially outward of the outermost set of lugs; and a plurality of screws threadedly engaging the wall, and extending therethrough for engaging the outer surface of any of said posts.
 7. The light fixture base according to claim 6 wherein there are four lugs in each set of lugs.
 8. The light fixture base according to claim 6 wherein there are three sets of lugs.
 9. The light fixture base according to claim 6 wherein each lug has a radially inner face which is substantially perpendicular to the floor portion, and which face is flat.
 10. The light fixture base according to claim 6 further including an annular cover plate secured to the lower end of the downwardly projecting wall. 